Improvement in combined abdominal and breast supporters



ELIZABETH E. VAN VLECK.

COMBINED ABDOMINAL AND BREAST SUPPORTERS.

N0.185,595. Patented Dec.19,1876.

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ELIZABETH E. 'VAN VLEGK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED ABDOMINAL AND BREAST SUPPORTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 185,595, dated December 19, 1876; application filed July 6, 1876,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIZABETH E. VAN VLECK, of the city of Chicago, county of Cook,

- and. Stateof Illinois, have invented a certain body, the object of this part of my invention being to furnish an apparatus which will give a grateful support tolarge and relaxed breasts, and prevents engorgement of the breasts and its consequences.

The second part of my invention relates to the combination and manufacture of an abdominal bandage, of good linen fabric,with rubber gussets in the bottom of the front part of said apparatus, out to'be perfectly fitting to the body, the object of this part of my in vention being to furnish an abdominal bandage, to obviate the tendency to syncope and stasis of the fluids in the abdomen, and to turuish pressure and support Where it is most needed to maintain the parts in the best possible condition for those necessary physiological changes in the uterus which always follow gestation, and to prevent and restore displacement and s-ubinvolution of the uterus, and to prevent engorgement of the uteruswalls, and the dilatation of the cavity of this viscus and other similar female difficulties, and to diminish the after-pains, and compress the whole subumbilical region equally; also, for the further purpose of furnishing a convenient and easy way of keeping napkins in proper place in case of flooding.

A-is a front view of the apparatus represented as a whole. with the exception of the napkin-band. B is a back view of the apparatus, represented as a whole, except the napkin-band, which appears broken offjust below the place of its attachment to the body of the apparatus at 0 (J is the napkin-band, or

that part of the apparatus used for holding napkins in proper place, represented as a whole, with a small piece of the body of the apparatus broken off with it, to show the point of attachment.

The apparatus is made of two thicknesses of good linen fabric or other similar material. It is cut and made as shown in the annexed drawing, and may be of different sizes to fit all patients. The front is divided by a horizontal slit into two parts, both of them buttonine' down the center. The upper one is cut to conform to the bust.

The apparatus is worn when lying down by lying-in women, and as the breasts contract the buttons are set back, so as to keep the supporter always fitting to the form. btraps attached to the back pass over the shoulders and button to the upper corners of the front.

The lower part of the apparatus, A, forms an abdominal bandage. It is made with elastic rubber gussets a a, from four to six in numher, as may be required. These give the proper shape to the bottom of the abdominal bandage, and enable it to adaptitselt' to the hips and thighs. One side is made with two rows of button-holes, for the purpose of allowing the bandage to be lapped over and buttoned, as shown by the accompanying drawing, when the abdomen contracts.

The napkin-band (l is made of the same material as the body of the apparatus, and is attached to the bottom of the back. It is drawn under between the thighs, and buttons to two lower buttons in front.

1 claim as my invention- The combination of the breast-supporter and abdominal bandage, when joined behind and at the sides, but divided in front, and constructed with the elastic gussets a, band 0, extra row of button-holes for enlarging the bandage, and the shoulder-straps, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

ELIZABETH E. VAN VLEOK.

Witnesses:

TRUMAN W. BROPHY, WILSON H. DAVIS. 

